2017-18 GHSA Basketball Transfer List

Here is a rundown of some transfers I have heard through the grapevine and a summary of what the additions mean. With a GHSA ruling looming on transfers, it could be a busy offseason earlier rather than later. If you know of anymore or any that are incorrect, please shoot me a tweet @KyleSandy355, leave a comment or email kylesandy355@gmail.com

Class AAAAAAA

Jared Jones follows the A.O.T. pipeline and will bring his post presence to McEachern to pair up with shot-blocking specialist Babatunde Akingbola to form the most formidable frontcourt in the state with Isaac Okoro starring at small forward.

DJ Williams transferred to Grayson during the school year’s second semester. He adds an athletic lead guard that can push the tempo in transition and has the body to become a plus-defender his senior season.

The mass exodus has begun at Parkview as Shiloh pilfers the Panthers for brothers Justin and Truitt Spencer along with Class AAAAAAA Freshman of the Year, Toneari Lane. The Spencers give coach Kim Rivers interchangeable pieces in the backcourt which provide depth and replace TJ Stargell while Lane is a cornerstone player over his final three seasons. Lane’s versatility on the wing and high ceiling will help a Shiloh team which lost it’s direction last year with a disappointing 16-13 finish. For Parkview, it is a tough pill to swallow for a young group that looked prime to breakthrough over the next two seasons.

Known for landing good guards, Pebblebrook attempts to reload and replace Collin Sexton with Alexander combo guard Grant Howard. Howard, 6-foot-3, possesses good size and scoring touch. He averaged over 17 points per game with the Cougars. Howard is a popular name among Low Major and Mid-Major programs. In Pebblebrook’s free flowing offense, Howard may be a fine fit to flourish his senior season.

Ian Hardy brings versatility and athleticism to the Discovery backcourt. Hardy began his career at Berkmar and now will be asked to play a big role with the Titans.

Mandarius Dickerson leaves Southwest DeKalb for Collins Hill after leading the Panthers in scoring at 14 points per game while adding on 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals. Mandarius is part of a four-man group of 2018 seniors who have decided to leave Southwest before their final season. Dickerson has been on a tear with Heat Check over the summer months. Dickerson is a good shooter from deep and has worked on slashing to and finishing around the basket.

With a chance to take over at Southwest Atlanta Christian after a large 2017 graduating class including DeAundrae Ballard departing, Koby Isaac is now on the move to his third school in three seasons. Isaac has shown flashes of promise over his career and averaged 6.3 points per game at SACA as a sophomore.

Coming off their best season in school history which included a Region 6 championship, Mountain View looks to carry their momentum by returning their starting backcourt and adding Nahiem Alleyne. The former South Gwinnett guard provides a versatile high-upside piece to relieve the scoring load placed on Spencer Rodgers and Miles Long. The Bear backcourt bolsters one of the state’s best cohesive groups flaunted experience and chemistry. A true sizable post presence is the one element Mountain View currently lacks.

Terence Porter has all the intangibles to have a breakthrough senior season at Grayson. At 6-foot-7, the athletically built Porter is a combo forward. He can rebound the ball but must improve on his ability to finish through contact at the rim. He has spent the summer with Team Power where he primarily worked the high post on offense. Porter provides Coach Geoffrey Pierce more length to pair with junior Kenyon Jackson inside after graduating Gerald Buncum. If Porter can buy into his role and continue to improve, the Rams once again could have one of Gwinnett’s best one-two combos on the glass.

Currently ranked a three-star point guard by 247Sports and the No. 5 prospect in Alabama by HoopSeen, Tony Johnson is heading to Berkmar after starring at Eufaula, AL. Johnson played this offseason with the Southern Stampede, coached by recent Patriot graduate and current Indiana Hoosier, Al Durham’s father. Johnson is an aggressive scorer that will have an opportunity to take the reigns at Berkmar, who seeks a new leader after a large graduating class.

After spending a year away at Huntington Prep, Elias King returns to his home school of Shiloh for his junior season. Currently ranked as a four-star recruit by 247Sports, King is a 6-foot-7 guard that thrives in transition when making decisions with the ball in his hands. Already a skilled passer, King can also fill it up from all three levels. He instantly becomes one of Georgia’s top 2019 prospects and returns to a talented Shiloh roster which already has added 2016-17 Class AAAAAAA Freshman of the Year Toneari Lane along with Parkview teammates Justin and Truitt Spencer.

Norcross has replaced the outgoing duo of Rayshaun Hammonds and Lance Thomas with Issa Muhammad. Muhammad, 6-foot-9 with an interesting skill-set, is tabbed as a three-star recruit by Rivals. With a Georgia Tech offer already in hand heading into his junior season, as a sophomore Muhammad appeared on the scene at Lakeside-DeKalb and averaged 11.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. He parlayed his play into a spot on the powerful Game Elite 2019 team which played up on the Adidas Uprising circuit. With Game Elite, his playing time and production fluctuated. Now heading into 2017-18, Muhammad will have an opportunity to continue to grow his game and find his niche with one of Georgia’s most consistent programs.

One of the best shooters in the 2020 class, Kevon Eskridge, is heading to Norcross after spending his freshman season at Columbia. In Year 1, Eskridge wasted no time making an impact, ranking third in DeKalb County in three-point shooting, nailing 63-of-141 attempts for a 45% mark. Eskridge is a fearless shooter that can take over games when hot. He will join fellow sophomore Brandon Boston in the Blue Devils backcourt, possibly the best 2020 guard duo in the state.

Class AAAAAA

Habersham Central gets a shot in the arm in new head coach Jeremy York along with three transfers who will make most of their impact on the football field, but still will add value on the hardwood. Brothers AJ and Donnie Curry come over from Stephens County. At 6-foot-6, AJ is a wiry athlete that can protect the paint and chip in on offense thanks to his ability to get out and run. Jim Barnett joins from Gainesville and brings a new dimension of toughness to the 1-23 Raiders.

Joshua Archer heads to Heritage-Conyers after the Patriots graduate a handful of college guards. Archer has big game experience from his time at Southwest DeKalb and should see plenty of opportunities to flourish his senior season under coach Vernon Denmark.

South Paulding receives a boost in the scoring department as Region 5 rival Cameron Armstrong moves in from Alexander. The 6-foot-2 combo guard can put the ball in the basket. He has put up big numbers over the past two summers with Team Forrest and started to show flashes of his capabilities this year with the Cougars. With a large 2017 class filing out of South Paulding, Armstrong could slide in and become one of coach Gil Davis’ leading scorers right away. Armstrong is a streaky three-point shooter that can carry a team at times, but he will have to lock in defensively over his final two seasons to reach his full potential.

6-foot-11 center Richard Rivers is rumored to be on the move to Dunwoody. Rivers lacks varsity experience, but he is a big body that can clog up the lane. He played for BCB last year before joining the Atlanta Xpress this season.

After winning a state title with First Presbyterian Christian Academy in the GISA in 2015-16, All-State wing Isaiah Scott and point guard Simon Steele move over to try their hand at the GHSA with Bradwell Institute. The Tigers won 6 games in 2015-16 and flashed major signs of improvement early on last year with a 5-1 start, but ultimately finished the season missing out on the Class AAAAAA playoffs with an 11-12 mark. Scott is a wiry scorer that should be among the Tigers’ leading scorers from Day 1 while Steele adds ball handling and team chemistry. The two will join Coastal Crew Rebels teammate Javonte LeCounte who averaged 12.1 points as a sophomore.

First Presbyterian Christian Academy is officially drained as Khalyn Weekley becomes the third player to move to the GHSA at Bradwell Institute. Weekley exploded onto the scene with his play at the Norman Parker Showcase. He is an aggressive point guard with college size. Weekley attacks the basket going downhill while still maintaining a respectable three-point shot and also the ability to get his teammates involved. Weekley’s will to win coupled with some familiar faces could help him cement himself as a D1 player and one of the best 2018 guards in Georgia all while thrusting the Tigers into the postseason picture.

In a potential state altering move in Class AAAAAA, 6-foot-6 sophomore Quincy Ademokoya is off to Dacula after spending his freshman season at Normal West High School in Chicago. Scouts from the area love his potential and say his motor runs hot. He projects to be an advanced defender and already holds an offer from DePaul. He is visiting both Illinois and Southern Illinois in June. His versatile size added to an already strong returning backcourt makes Dacula interesting contender for 2017-18.

Lakeside-Evans bolsters its backcourt firepower with the addition of Tyshun Briscoe. Briscoe comes in from Richmond Academy with a similar scoring mindset to that of lead dog Kalen Williams. Briscoe is a microwave from beyond the arc that can score in bunches. He will start alongside Williams his sophomore season.

Messiah Thompson returns to North Atlanta after seeing limited time at Pebblebrook. Thompson instantly becomes the number one option. He is the engine for the Warriors and will have everything run through him. Thompson has good court vision and can create his own shot. His size will hurt his recruitment, but Thompson has an advanced feel for the game.

Brenden Tucker makes an in-county move from Archer to Dacula for his junior season and in the process bolsters the Falcons’ backcourt, making it possibly the strongest on paper in Class AAAAAA. Tucker used an electric first-step to average a team-best 14.2 points per game with the Tigers while adding 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals a night. Tucker will fit in alongside point guard Mekhail Bethea, Class 6A 2016-17 Most Improved Player Arusha Hunter and Reggie Horton.

After losing Malachi Rhodes back to ELCA, Langston Hughes instead gets the second scoring option they’ll need to repeat as state champs in the form of Team Wall forward Tyler Smith. Smith comes in from Panther Creek, NC where he averaged 13.1 points and 5.4 rebounds as a bruising 6-foot-6, 225-pound junior forward. Smith spent his final summer traveling the nation with Team Wall where he showcased his physicality and nimble footwork along the baseline. His jump shot is still improving as he currently butters his bread in the paint and attacking the rim from the mid-range and in, with the ability to knock down the open shot. Smith enters one of Georgia’s more competitive regions where toughness will win games.

Class AAAAA

After taking a trip to the Sweet 16 in Class AAAAA, Starr’s Mill will look to replace Zach Pina who makes the 6.5 mile move to play at neighboring rival McIntosh. Pina won Freshman of the Year his first season with the Panthers and followed up by averaging 15.9 points as a sophomore and 12.3 as a junior. He brings experience and a knack for scoring the ball to a McIntosh team which should be much improved after undergoing a rebuilding season.

For the second season in a row, a Mountain View Bear transfers to Buford. This time it is Brandon Green. The 6-foot-5 forward has yet to make a major impact on the varsity level and will try to put his versatile skill set to use in coach Eddie Martin’s system. Green averaged 3.1 points and 2.3 rebounds as a part of Mountain View’s Region 6-AAAAAAA championship team.

Jalen Jackson brings over size and plenty growth to Cedar Shoals after seeing quality minutes as a freshman at Lincoln County. Jackson, who is expected to grow upwards of 6-foot-6 when all is said and done, is a tough rebounder who averaged 7 points and 6 rebounds in Region 7-A.

Miller Grove adds veteran lead guard TJ Stargell to handle the point guard duties. The Wolverines went through some growing pains at times last year with a young backcourt and should be better for it this season. Stargell brings a true pass-first mentality to the roster with plenty of big game experience already under his belt from his days at Shiloh.

Athens Christian will try to survive a devastating blow as Quincy Canty departs for Cedar Shoals. At 6-foot-5, Canty was an All-Region performer and the Eagles’ leading scorer as a freshman forward. Athens Christian was set to open the season as one of Class A-Private’s top programs, but with the bouncy and physical forward gone, they will now seek a new No. 1 option. For Cedar Shoals, they get an impact player to build around after graduating an important senior class which included Charleston Southern-signee Phlan Fleming.

Tyler Johnson has followed Quincy Canty to Cedar Shoals after initially the duo looked like the long term answer for Athens Christian and seemingly had the ability to thrust the Eagles deep into the state playoff picture. Instead, they will suit up for the Jaguars. Johnson is a talented guard who plays much larger than his size, often leading to stuffed stat sheets. He can get red-hot from beyond the arc, but also can do damage in the paint. The sophomore is a very good rebounder for his size and is a pest on defense.

Jalen Mason returns home to Woodland-Henry and has a chance to immediately make the team his and truly cement himself as a Division I point guard. At 6-foot-3, Mason is an explosive athlete who has played against elite level competition while at Miller Grove and with the Georgia Stars. Mason averaged 6.3 points per game with the Wolverines while sharing time in a crowded backcourt. Now at Woodland, Mason should see his production skyrocket heading into his upperclassman seasons. Mason possesses quick lateral movements and can get into the lane. He has a quality three-point shot and has the intangibles to become a high-caliber perimeter defender.

Class AAAA

Salem lands a physical piece to the puzzle in former Southwest DeKalb Panther Tabias Long. The 6-foot-5 forward has an athletic build that he uses to bully opponents or rise over them for clean looks. He averaged 4.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in Southwest’s balanced offense. While at Salem, he may be asked to score the ball more and stuff the stat sheet.

Baldwin plucks away two of Milledgeville’s better players in Georgia Military College’s Justin Webb and Zae Simpson. Webb is a 6-foot-6 combo forward entering his junior season. Last year with the Bulldogs he averaged 11 points and 5.2 rebounds. Webb is a sleeper in the 2019 class, but with Buck Harris coaching him up, Harris may be able to pull out his potential. Webb will need to get tougher as he has had a tendency to shy away from physicality. Simpson saw limited minutes at GMC, but could provide good rotational minutes for the Braves.

The future of Class AAAA potentially has changed if not this year but for the long-term as Landmark Christian legacy Walker Kessler has transferred to Woodward Academy, who already has reigning Class AAAA Freshman of the Year, dual-sport standout 6-foot-5 Jacorrei Turner, in place. While at Landmark Christian, the 6-foot-10 rising sophomore averaged 15.1 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3 blocks per game on his way to earning All-State Honorable Mention. Kessler is widely regarded as the most skilled 2020 big man the state has to offer. Kessler’s father, uncle and older brother all played for the Georgia Bulldogs, his dad drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers. Kessler spent the summer with the 15U Atlanta Celtics where he showcased his soft touch which extends to beyond the three-point line and his ability to alter shots and rebound at a high clip. The Woodward Academy Eagles now have an accumulation of young talent that could be ready to come to fruition in a classification which is wide open behind reigning state champion Upson-Lee and runner-up St. Pius. A frontline of Kessler, Turner and 6-foot-8 2019 forward Kevin Powell is the best the class has to offer.

Class AAA

Tay Howard makes the move from Madison County to East Jackson to help out on the perimeter. Howard was an All-Area Honorable Mention selection last year. His 6-foot-4 length on defense causes problems for smaller guards, leading to steals and transition opportunities. He will have two seasons to continue to grow his game as East Jackson takes the next step during their rebuild.

Cedar Grove gets help at point guard in the form of rising senior Keshun Byrd. Byrd averaged 10.1 points and 3.4 assists at Maynard Jackson. He will share the ball handling duties with junior Devon Barnes.

Savannah-power Jenkins adds senior guard Matt Sams from Savannah High and 6-foot-7 junior Lamont Sams from Johnson-Savannah. Matt led the Bluejackets in scoring at 14.9 points per game while Lamont averaged 3.1 points backing up Amanze Ngumezi. Lamont is still raw but he has length and confidence to shoot from three in the corners. Both Sams will have an immediate opportunity to contribute for the Warriors.

Class AA

The addition of Isaiah Bauman strengthens a Glenn Hills backcourt that takes a hit with graduation. Bauman moves 9.7 miles to join a Spartans group that saw a 13-game win increase this past season. Bauman is an aggressive scorer with a dog mentality. Bauman has had a strong summer with Sports Academy South as the team’s leading scorer and consistent All-Tournament performer at HoopSeen events. He and Eric Farmer could compose of one of Augusta’s better backcourts which still has 6-foot-8 Timmy Sellers anchoring the paint.

Class A

Daniel Parrish brings confidence and versatility to the Aquinas frontcourt with the ability to play positions 3 thru 5. Though he has an unorthodox left-handed stroke, Parrish can knock down threes when left open, hitting a a 35% clip while averaging 13.6 points and 8 rebounds.

Zy Wright heads to rival Aquinas after spending his freshman season at Lincoln County. Wright came on strong when his team needed him the most, averaging 24 points per game in the postseason, dropping in 26 points in a Sweet 16 loss at Treutlen. Wright comes from good bloodlines, his mother the leading scorer in Lincoln County history and a D-I player herself.

Trevon Reddish moves from Carrollton to ELCA. The rising junior is a talented guard that plays above the rim and can hunt his own shot. He can score from all three levels and likes to use his size to his advantage on the block against smaller defenders. Reddish has seen major minutes over his early career and brings experience into his final two seasons. The Chargers are on the rise in Class A-Private after winning 20 games with a young team.

With their roster in flux, the two-time defending Class A-Private state champs Greenforest have added Parkview sharpshooter Cam Chavers. The 5-foot-11 senior averaged 8 points per game as a junior after leading the Panthers as a sophomore at 10.3. Chavers provides an off-ball floor stretcher that can open up the interior for Greenforest’s bigs down low.

Out-of-GHSA

Trinity Christian over in the GISA gets a good one in Brady Burnett. The 6-foot-4 forward comes over from neighboring East Coweta and brings with him a diverse skill set at the stretch position. With the ability to put the ball on the deck and finish with both hands, Burnett also possesses a soft touch which can extend out to the three-point line in time.

Lovett’s Ryan Greer heads up north to Massachusetts to Northfield Mount Hermon. Greer was possibly the state’s most underappreciated guard, a scorer and leader of the Lions.